GRANT MORRIS FROM BRESSAY, SHETLAND, INVOLVED IN SEXUAL MESSAGE SCANDAL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Bressay and the wider Shetland area, Grant Morris, a 38-year-old man, has been implicated in a disturbing series of online communications with underage girls. The court proceedings revealed that Morris engaged in a calculated deception, pretending to be significantly younger than his actual age in order to establish contact with teenage girls and send them sexually explicit messages.

According to court records, Morris first initiated contact with his initial victim in December 2017. At that time, she was only 14 years old. Morris adopted the alias 'Grant Merryfield,' claiming to be a 19-year-old from Edinburgh, despite knowing her true age. He used social media platforms, including Snapchat and text messaging, to maintain communication. Initially, the messages appeared harmless, described as 'innocuous' by the court. However, by May 2018, the tone of their exchanges had shifted dramatically, becoming 'extremely graphic' and sexually explicit.

Over the course of several months, Morris sent thousands of messages to the girl, many of which were flirtatious and sexual in nature. These messages were sent almost daily, all under his false identity. The victim gradually developed a perception of Morris as her boyfriend, which led her to introduce him to her friends. This escalation resulted in Morris engaging in further inappropriate communications with two additional girls, both under the age of 16.

Evidence presented in court included a particularly disturbing message in which Morris stated his desire to 'tear all her clothes off and have sex with her.' When one of the girls expressed discomfort with his sexual messages, she was eventually encouraged to inform her father, who is a police officer. This action prompted an investigation by law enforcement authorities.

Following the police intervention, the case was transferred to Shetland in March 2020. Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, Morris was formally interviewed by officers in September 2020. During this interview, he provided a 'full and comprehensive admission' of his actions. Importantly, the investigation found that Morris did not attempt to meet any of the girls in person, nor did officers discover any indecent images of children in his possession.

Defense counsel for Morris indicated that they would reserve their mitigation for the sentencing phase, which is scheduled to take place next month. The case was adjourned until December 8th by Sheriff Ian Cruickshank, who ordered the preparation of criminal justice social work reports and a restriction of liberty assessment. The sheriff also noted that Morris would be subject to notification requirements under sexual offence legislation, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the potential consequences he faces.